Rowan College at Burlington County, Virtua announce new career path in exercise and wellness

Post date:

Thursday, June 15, 2017 - 9:37am

Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC), in partnership with Virtua, will be offering an associate degree program in Exercise Science Health and Wellness Promotion that will provide a seamless transfer to Rowan University and access to growing field of personal fitness.

“As people live longer lives and desire to remain healthy through programs of personal fitness, we’ve seen a growing demand for athletic trainers and health educators,” said Al Campanella, Executive Vice President for Virtua. “Students who complete their associate and bachelor’s degrees in this field will be well prepared for a career in state-of-the-art fitness centers, similar to Virtua’s three Health and Wellness centers in southern New Jersey.”

Students can join this program now for the fall. New students may click here to apply to RCBC.

“This is a great way for students to enter a field that is growing and of interest to many of us who want long, healthy and fulfilling lives,” said RCBC Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Karen Montalto. “Our goal through the Virtua partnership is to ensure our programs are aligned with the healthcare needs of today and tomorrow and this career path certainly meets that objective.”

Health Sciences jobs are among the fastest growing in the country. The projected growth between 2014 and 2024 is 21 percent for athletic trainers and 13 percent for health educators. These careers also carry very competitive salaries. Median pay is $44,670 for athletic trainers, $47,010 for exercise physiologists and $43,840 for health educators and community health workers.

“Students who take this track can earn their bachelor’s degree from Rowan University to enter a high-growth, high-pay field,” RCBC President Paul Drayton said. “This is a great example of the Classroom to Career opportunities RCBC students have because of our partnerships with Rowan University and Virtua.”

This program will cover nutritional requirements for consumers that promote health and wellness, explore the relationship of exercise science with health and wellness, and serve as the essential first step for the student who wishes to continue in this field.

Exercise Science is one of four new fall 2017 programs coming to RCBC, a top-ranked and growing community college. The new programs, which also include Geoscience, Healthcare Informatics and Health Sciences, create affordable pathways into rewarding careers that have a growing demand for new professionals.